Financial Wellness Learning Center

Welcome to the Peoples Bank Financial Wellness Center

Here you can learn about managing money and building a financial future for you, your family and even your business.;
  • Safety & Security
3 Simple Steps to a GREAT Password
A password is GREAT if it’s both easy to remember and hard to crack. We have tips on ways to create passwords that are both.
Learn how
  • Owning a Home
Before Buying Your First House
If you are like millions of others, owning your own home is a primary financial and lifestyle goal. Just make sure you understand that there can be pros and cons.
Read this article to learn more
  • Personal
Best time to save money on products and services
Timing is everything. If you’re looking to save on your next grill, mattress, TV and so much more, we break it down month-by-month.
Read on
  • Personal
Budgeting Your First Apartment
This guide will teach you what to expect as a first-time tenant so you can rent your first apartment with confidence.
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  • Safety & Security
Cyber Safety at Home
Help make your home a safe digital haven by protecting networks, devices and online lives with these tips.
Read on
  • Business
  • Safety & Security
Protect Your Business: Heightened Hacker Attempts during Holidays
Cybercriminals never rest, especially during holidays. They take advantage of distractions and busy schedules, increasing their attempts to steal information and infect systems.
How you can stay vigilant
  • Safety & Security
Cybersecurity for Families
As technology continues to evolve, the tools and toys available to your children increase in number and capabilities. Here are tips on how to protect kids and home networks.
Read on
  • Personal
Developing and Using a Wise Borrowing Strategy
Too much, too expensive or the wrong kinds of debt can make life miserable.
Learn how
  • Personal
How to Budget as a College Student
Financial responsibility can be overwhelming for some college students. Careful saving and spending habits can pay off in the long run.
Learn to build a budget
  • Personal
  • Safety & Security
How to Safely Use Mobile Payment Apps and Services
Online payment systems like Zelle, Venmo and CashApp let you quickly and easily send money. Learn how to use these apps safely.
Read more
  • Getting Started
  • Personal
Get Smart About Credit
Learn about building a good credit record and the importance of an accurate credit report. It will help to ensure that credit will be there when you need it.
Read this article to learn more
  • Personal
How to Teach Your Kids to Be Money Smart
Kids learn best from their parents (or caregivers) and few things are more relevant to success than money “smarts”.
Get started teaching
  • Personal
College Isn't the Only Path
College may not be for everyone. There are alternatives to a four-year program that may make more sense.
Check out these options
  • Personal
Methods for Merging Couple’s Finances
Merging finances as a couple can be overwhelming. We have some money management tips to make these decisions easier.
Read our tips
  • Getting Started
Financial Calculators
Use our interactive calculators to help determine payments, fees, returns and more when planning your finances.
Start here
  • Getting Started
  • Personal
Financial Foundations
Understand the basics of some key financial concepts.
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  • Getting Started
  • Personal
Building Financial Capability
Learn how to manage your money and avoid financial dangers.
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  • Personal
Preparing a Personal Balance Sheet
A personal balance sheet is a way to measure financial progress. Download our handy guide to preparing your own.
Read more
  • Personal
How Much Does College Cost?
Beyond tuition, other school-related costs have also increased, such as books, technology and living expenses.
How to plan appropriately
  • Getting Started
  • Personal
Preventing Overdraft Fees
Learn why overdraft fees occur and how to avoid them.
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  • Personal
Preparing for Retirement
Learn how you should prepare for an eventual retirement.
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  • Getting Started
  • Personal
Investing in your future
Learn how to be more financially prepared in the years ahead.
Start Planning
  • Owning a Home
Buying a Home
Congratulations! You’ve decided to purchase a home. Now it's time to prepare yourself to make the right decisions by learning about the process, the people who can assist you, and the associated costs.
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  • Owning a Home
10 Steps in the Home Buying Process
Looking to buy your first home? We'll walk you through the steps to buying your home and getting a mortgage.
Infographic
  • Owning a Home
How to Use Home Equity to Finance Life Events
You’ve probably heard of home loans or home equity lines of credit but aren’t sure when to use them or why they might be an option for you. We can fill you in.
Read on
  • Safety & Security
Protecting Yourself from SMiShing and Vishing
They're not typos. Identity theft techniques now include the use of text (SMS) messages and voice mail. Threats from these new approaches are called “Smishing” for SMS fraud attempts and “Vishing” for voice mail fraud attempts.
Learn more
  • Personal
Savings Goals in Your 20s
Life can move in your 20s. fast so it’s smart to prepare for when those days come. Gain the financial security and confidence you need to make a habit out of saving.
Dig into some savings goals
  • Business
  • Safety & Security
Scams and Your Small Business
If you own a small business or are part of a non-profit organization, you spend a lot of time and effort making sure the organization works well. But when scammers go after your organization, it can hurt your reputation and your bottom line. Learn the signs of scams that target businesses.
Read more
  • Owning a Home
Should You Rent or Buy a Home?
Many factors come into play when deciding whether to rent or buy a home. We can help you navigate the process.
Infographic
  • Business
Small Business Essentials
Understand the financial basics of running a small business.
Start Learning
  • Getting Started
  • Personal
Understanding Credit Card Rates
Credit card interest is a fee you pay when you borrow money from your financial institution. The rate determines how much.
Learn why it’s important
  • Personal
What’s the difference between APY and APR?
You may have the terms APY and APR referring to bank accounts, loans or credit cards. It’s important to know what each of them means and how they affect you and your finances.
Read on
  • Getting Started
  • Personal
Your First Financial Plan
Creating a first financial plan is an essential step towards establishing a strong financial foundation.
Start with these steps
  • Personal
Financial Caregiving
Learn more about the responsibilities of caring for another person's finances.
Learn more
  • Personal
Mindful Living
Feeling stressed out? You’re not alone. In our daily lives, we experience many ups and downs. The roller coaster of emotions we experience has a real effect on our bodies and on our minds.
Don’t let stress get the best of you
  • Personal
Building a Good Credit Record
A solid credit history can be one of your most useful and powerful financial assets.
Learn how
  • Personal
Financial Tip: Pay More Than the Minimum on Your Credit Card
Cut months or even years off your credit card payments by increasing the amount you pay each month.
Learn how
  • Personal
Debt Management
One survey shows that approximately 80% of Americans are currently in debt. Understanding how debt works, knowing where to go for help, and making a plan are the keys to help you better manage your debt.
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  • Personal
Building Emergency Savings
No one wants to think about car breakdowns or job loss. But as much as we’d like to avoid thinking about them, emergencies do happen.
Read more
  • Personal
Credit Scores and Reports
Your credit can have a big impact on your financial life. Credit scores and reports provide a snapshot of the financial habits that financial institutions, cell phone companies, credit card companies, and others use to get a sense of your creditworthiness.
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  • Personal
Healthy Financial Habits
If you ever feel overwhelmed by your financial situation, you’re not alone. In fact, nearly half of all Americans live paycheck to paycheck—struggling to pay their bills or save for the future.
  • Personal
Paying for College
College costs are rising, but with strategic planning and saving, paying for education can be within your reach. Regardless of your financial situation, there are smart ways to plan and pay for college. Let’s explore the many options that may be available to you and your family.
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  • Personal
Building a Savings Cushion
Having a financial cushion is one of the most important things you can do to feel financially secure. We have some ideas that may help.
Read on
  • Personal
Budgeting for Families
Budgeting and planning family finances are key to controlling spending and planning for a healthy financial future.
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  • Personal
Creating a Budget
Have you ever run out of money before the end of the month? Determine your monthly income and expenses to create a budget so you know where your money is going instead of wondering where it went.
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  • Personal
Family Conversations about Money
Although money concerns may put a strain on relationships and conversations about money can be stressful, having family conversations proactively may help.
Read more
  • Personal
Managing Finances Through the Loss of a Loved One
Learn about the steps needed to settle the estate of a loved one who has passed away.
Get started
  • Personal
Save $1,000 (or more) this year
There are several ways to build a savings account. Starting small may be the way to go.
Try this easy system
  • Personal
How to Pay Off Your Debt Fast
The best way to get out of loan and credit card debt fast is to cut spending, start saving, and consolidate your loans.
Learn how
  • Getting Started
  • Personal
Start Simple with These Budgeting Tips
Tracking your monthly spending, then making a plan to stay within that budget can be an overwhelming task for some people.
Read our tips
  • Getting Started
  • Personal
Taxes: The Basics
By understanding why taxes are important, how to stay on top of your taxes, and the steps for filing, you can avoid the stress of tax season.
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  • Personal
Set Your Calendar Every Year for Good Financial Health
Experts recommend that you review your credit report at least once a year. This works out perfectly since the credit bureaus are legally required to provide you with a free report once a year.
Learn how to check your credit report for free
  • Business
Banking Tips for Small Business
If all it took was an idea, everybody would be a business owner. Here are some tips on how to make a good idea a good source of revenue.
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  • Business
Business Financing Tips for Women Entrepreneurs
To help women in business finance their companies, here are some helpful resources and funding options available to female entrepreneurs in North Carolina.
Learn more
  • Business
Financial Wellbeing for Entrepreneurs
Explore what you can do to achieve financial wellbeing while starting a new business or going into business for yourself.
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  • Owning a Home
Considering Homeownership
More than 70% of Americans consider homeownership to be an important part of the American Dream but buying a home can be one of the most expensive, albeit rewarding, decisions you’ll ever make.
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  • Owning a Home
Ways to Save When Remodeling
Does your house need a “facelift”? If, so you don’t have to move – just spice things up by remodeling.
Read more
  • Safety & Security
Identity Protection
Your identity is a valuable piece of information and identity theft and identity fraud are fast-growing crimes. They can involve someone impersonating you, using your personal information to open bank accounts, withdrawing money from your accounts, or even taking out loans in your name.
Read more
  • Safety & Security
Don't be a money mule
A money mule is a person who transfers illegally obtained money between different payment accounts—often in different countries—on behalf of others.
Learn the signs
  • Safety & Security
Online Dating Scams
Dating scams start with fake profiles on dating apps or social media. Scammers strike up a relationship with their targets and work to build trust. Sometime later, they make up a story and ask for money.
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  • Safety & Security
How to Avoid Peer-to-Peer (P2P) App Scams
How safe are peer-to-peer (P2P) payment applications and how can you avoid being scammed? We explain the ins and outs here.
Read on
  • Personal
  • Safety & Security
Introduction to Social Media Scams
Learn about social media scams and how not to fall for scammers.
Read more
  • Business
  • Safety & Security
10 Ways Small Businesses Can Fight Fraud
Fraud incidents tend to disproportionately affect small businesses since the relative size of a financial loss makes up a much bigger chunk of revenue compared with larger organizations. Learn how to fight back.
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  • Safety & Security
Can You Spot a Phishing Scam?
Every day, thousands of people fall victim to fraudulent emails, texts and calls from scammers pretending to be their bank. It’s time to put scammers in their place.
Learn how
  • Business
  • Safety & Security
Protect Your Business IT Assets
This article addresses two problem areas that are of particular concern to business owners and operators: old computers and software updates.
Learn how
  • Owning a Home
What Home Owners Insurance Doesn't Cover
If you’re ready to buy a home, it’s important to understand homeowners insurance. These policies provide financial protection against damage, theft and personal injury, but there are some nuances to consider.
Read this article to learn more
  • Business
Avoiding Common Small Business Start-Up Problems
Starting a new business? Set yourself for success by avoiding some of these common pitfalls.
Learn more
  • Safety & Security
Is your internet browser up to date?
Internet browser updates are often made to fix security issues and running an older version may invite hackers into your system.
Learn more
  • Safety & Security
Preventing Elder Financial Abuse
Learn strategies that may prepare you to prevent elder financial fraud from happening to you or a loved one.
Read more
  • Owning a Home
Myths about renting vs. buying a home
Knowing your options is key and should not be clouded by myths or bad advice. Decide if these common thoughts about homeownership are myths or not.
Take our quiz
  • Owning a Home
How to Prepare for Buying a Home
Many people try to buy a home backwards, a frustrating and unsatisfactory problem for all parties. Learn how to choose the right things to do first.
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  • Getting Started
More About Safety and Security
Learn more about how to keep your identity and your finances safe and secure.
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  • Getting Started
More About Personal Finance
Take a deeper dive into important financial information for all stages of your life.
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  • Getting Started
More About Business Finances
Take a deeper dive into important financial topics about building and growing your business.
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  • Getting Started
More About Home Ownership
Learn more about the ins and outs of buying and owning property.
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